Scottish Executive

Access for Disabled People

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what regulations are in place on the provision of toilet facilities for disabled people at sports stadiums.

Ms Margaret Curran: There are provisions within the Building Standards (Scotland) Regulations 1990, as amended. The present requirement within the Technical Standards for compliance with the regulations, which came into force in April 2000, stipulates a minimum number of wheelchair spaces dependent upon the seating capacity of a stadium. There is a further standard setting a maximum horizontal travel distance of 45 metres from any wheelchair accessible point to sanitary accommodation suitable for people with disabilities.

Anti-Social Behaviour

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it measures the effectiveness of legislation designed to control anti-social tenants and how many anti-social behaviour orders have been served nationally to date.

Iain Gray: The Scottish Executive commissions the Chartered Institute of Housing in Scotland to undertake an annual exercise to determine the use being made of evictions for anti-social behaviour and Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs). The total number of ASBOs granted to date is 61 (nine in 1999 and 52 in 2000). Figures for the period 1 December 2000 to 30 November 2001 will be published by the Institute shortly.

Architecture

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on its commitment to promote an annual award for the best publicly-funded building; who is being asked to put forward nominations; when the first award will be made; what the award will be; whether buildings built under Public/Private Partnership schemes will be eligible; what consultation there has been as to the award and the process to be followed in relation to it, and whether the award will be judged by it or by an independent body or person and, if the latter, who that person or body will be.

Dr Elaine Murray: The creation of an annual Scottish award for best publicly funded building is one of a number of initiatives to which the Executive is committed under the policy on architecture. How we take this forward is currently under consideration. At the moment, Scottish projects are eligible for the Prime Minister's Better Public Buildings Award, which is a UK-wide scheme.

Central Heating

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-20259 by Iain Gray on 6 December 2001, what progress has been made on the target of Eaga Partnerships (Scotland) to install 3,500 heating systems under the Central Heating Installation Programme by March 2002.

Iain Gray: Good progress has been made. Over 1,400 central heating systems have now been installed and Eaga hope to install 3,500 heating systems by March 2002.

Children's Hearings

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many juveniles from the Cumbernauld and Kilsyth constituency have been brought before a Children's Hearing in each of the last (a) five years and (b) 12 months.

Cathy Jamieson: The information requested is not held centrally. Operational statistics relating to the children's hearings system are the responsibility of the Scottish Children's Reporter Administration. National statistical bulletins for 1997-2000 are available in the Parliament's Reference Centre. (Bib. number 16799)

Children's Hearings

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many juveniles from the Cumbernauld and Kilsyth constituency have been brought before a Children's Hearing on more than one occasion in each of the last 12 months.

Cathy Jamieson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-23011.

Crime

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it is giving to instigating an investigation into the operation of sunbed parlours following recent reports linking them with criminal activities.

Mr Jim Wallace: This is a matter for the police, who will rigorously investigate any information or complaints made to them. Anyone with information which relates to any suspected criminal activity in this area should therefore report it to the police.

Diabetes

Mr Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding was allocated to diabetic out-patient clinics by each health board in each of the past three financial years.

Malcolm Chisholm: This information is not collected centrally. The Executive is committed to ensuring that the most effective services are provided for people with diabetes. To that end, NHS boards are expected to implement the SIGN Guideline on the management of diabetes and the major milestones in the Scottish Diabetes Framework, and to take account of the standards for diabetes published by the Clinical Standards Board for Scotland.

Digital Technology

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are to roll out broadband technology in those areas of central Scotland that do not yet have access.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Access to higher bandwidth telecoms services is already available across central Scotland by means of leased lines. Access to services such as ADSL and cable-modem currently stands at about 43% population coverage in central Scotland (taking Central, Fife, Lothian and Strathclyde together). In addition, broadband fixed wireless access licences are expected to be available shortly in Scotland, while trials of satellite ADSL-level services are also taking place.

  Further roll-out of higher bandwidth services in central Scotland will be a commercial matter for the providers and will depend upon demand. The Executive is working with the enterprise agencies to develop a Scottish programme of demand stimulation measures under the DTI fund for innovative uses of broadband.

  Finally, the Executive is taking forward aggregated public sector procurement in the Highlands and Islands and the south of Scotland as a means of extending broadband access in those areas. The Executive will consider the need for and timing of the roll out of this approach more widely across Scotland, taking into account progress in pathfinder areas and the extent that operation of the market is increasing access to broadband services.

Drug Misuse

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking in order to tackle drug misuse in local communities.

Ms Margaret Curran: Protecting our communities from drug-related anti-social and criminal behaviour is one of the four pillars of our drugs strategy, along with helping young people, treating those affected by drug misuse, and stifling the availability of drugs. Through Scotland Against Drugs' Challenge Fund and Community Fund, the Executive is supporting a wide range of diverse and innovative projects designed to address local drugs problems. Along with the Daily Record , we have recently launched the Scottish Communities Against Drugs initiative.

  Progress in delivering our strategy is set out in our Annual Report, which was published in November. Copies were sent to all MSPs, and the report is also available in the Parliament's Reference Centre.

Education

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to raise awareness of and promote the learning of modern languages among young people.

Nicol Stephen: Information leaflets for parents and pupils outlining the benefits of language skills were published on 25 February. These will be distributed to local authorities for their pupils and parents during the next few weeks.

Education

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) primary and (b) secondary headteachers retired through stress-related illnesses in (i) 1999, (ii) 2000 and (iii) 2001, broken down by local authority area.

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) primary and (b) secondary depute headteachers retired through stress-related illnesses in (i) 1999, (ii) 2000 and (iii) 2001, broken down by local authority area.

Nicol Stephen: The information requested is not held centrally.

Education

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what improvements in numeracy and literacy have been made since 1999 for pupils at schools in Clydebank and Milngavie.

Nicol Stephen: Relevant information on pupil attainment within the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework for the six publicly funded schools in Clydebank and Milngavie constituency is set out in the following table:

  


Year1


% of S4 roll attaining SCQF Level 32 
  or better in English by the end of S4


% of S4 roll attaining SCQF Level 32 
  or better in Maths by the end of S4




1997-99


93.5


92.9




1998-2000


94.5


93.8




1999-2001


94.9


93.7




  Notes:

  1. Figures are calculated as three year rolling averages.

  2. The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) has brought together the existing and new SQA qualifications. The SCQF levels are now used as the basis for reporting attainment. SCQF level 3 is equivalent to Standard Grade at Foundation level or Access 3 in National Qualifications.

Education

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to ensure that all school children achieve a high minimum standard of computer skills.

Nicol Stephen: The National Grid for Learning (NGfL) programme in Scotland aims to deliver the infrastructure, learning material and training to ensure that all pupils and teachers have access to modern ICT facilities in order to develop their skills. Between 1999 and 2002, the Scottish Executive has invested more than £90 million in the programme. A report on progress on the NGfL was published in August 2001 and can be found at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library3/education/nglr-00.asp.

  The Executive has worked with the New Opportunities Fund (NOF) to maximise the impact of the NOF's £23 million programme to offer ICT training to all teachers and school librarians in Scotland. This programme is helping to make sure that staff are encouraging pupils to use ICT skills throughout the curriculum.

  At the same time, the Executive has issued revised national 5-14 guidelines for ICT. The guidelines and associated guides for teachers and managers provide advice and assistance to education authorities and schools in developing pupils' skills, knowledge and informed attitudes to ICT.

Elderly People

Mr Keith Harding (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to its news release SE0324/02 of 12 February 2002, what budget has been set aside for each of the next three years in order to cover the cost of the Older People's Consultative Forum.

Hugh Henry: The costs of the Older People's Consultative Forum comprise secretariat and travel costs. They are being met from within existing running costs.

Energy Efficiency

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it next plans to review the energy efficiency requirements within building regulations.

Ms Margaret Curran: The energy efficiency requirements within building regulations have been reviewed and stringent new standards came into force on 4 March 2002.

Enterprise

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what projects have been funded by the New Futures Fund in each (a) constituency and (b) parliamentary region in each year since 1998, giving (i) the total amount of funding received by, (ii) the name of and (iii) the location of each such project.

Ms Wendy Alexander: This information is not held centrally. Allocation of funding to individual projects is an operational matter and as such is the responsibility of Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

Environment

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22361 by Ross Finnie on 8 February 2002, why no funding has been allocated to hedge planting or for the restoration of stone dykes.

Ross Finnie: No funding has been allocated to hedge planting or restoration of stone dykes because funding in full all applications, including capital measures which are not essential to conservation management, would have meant that only a small proportion of those who applied to join the Rural Stewardship Scheme in 2001 would have received funding.

Environment

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21594 by Ross Finnie on 22 January 2002, how it defines "credible evidence" and whether it will give examples of what its definition includes.

Ross Finnie: Evidence of harm would be considered "credible" if that evidence had the support of the scientific advisers to ministers. Dependent upon the nature of the evidence highlighted, that advice could come from the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment, the Health & Safety Executive, the Food Standards Agency or Scottish Natural Heritage. If the conclusion of those advisers was that the evidence did indeed suggest that a particular GM release could harm human health or the environment, ministers have the power to halt that release.

European Convention on Human Rights

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list any local authorities who have disciplinary procedures for teachers and promoted teaching staff that do not currently conform to the European Convention on Human Rights.

Nicol Stephen: A model disciplinary procedure is contained within the terms and conditions of service for teachers. It is for education authorities to develop procedures based on that model. Detailed compliance with the European Convention of Human Rights is a matter for individual authorities. The Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers has established a working group which is reviewing disciplinary and grievance procedures.

Fisheries

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it uses independent observers in order to determine how many dolphins and other cetaceans are caught accidentally in trawlers' nets.

Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive is working closely with colleagues in the Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to draft a UK Small Cetacean Bycatch Response Strategy which aims to work towards meeting the target for unacceptable cetacean bycatch, set by the Agreement for the Conservation of Small Cetaceans in the Baltic and North Seas, of no more than 1.7% across all UK fisheries in 2003.

  The Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU) have been contracted by DEFRA to investigate cetacean bycatch in UK pelagic trawl and gillnet fisheries. In collaboration with the Scottish Pelagic Fishermen's Association, SMRU have placed observers on board UK pelagic vessels.

  Since 1999 SMRU have observed a total of 59 pelagic haul trawls during 83 days at sea in the waters around Scotland but have recorded no cetacean bycatch to date.

Fisheries

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when and how the fishing industry was informed of any changes to the technical conservation regulations, implemented on 1 January 2002 under the EU Cod Recovery Plan.

Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive issued a letter of guidance to every fishing vessel licence holder in Scotland on 23 November 2001. This guidance summarised the new requirements brought in by Commission Regulation (EC) No. 2056/2001 establishing additional technical measures for the recovery of the stocks of cod in the North Sea and to the west of Scotland. This regulation entered into force on 1 January 2002.

Fisheries

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the dedicated post of Fisheries Secretary in its Environment and Rural Affairs Department still exists and whether there have been any recent changes to the post's responsibilities.

Ross Finnie: This post has recently been expanded to include rural development matters as part of a reorganisation of senior management responsibilities within the department. However, the Scottish Executive continues to give high priority to fisheries matters and both staffing levels and financial support for the fisheries sector have been increased since devolution.

Fisheries

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions are taking place with the European Commission about the impact of the EU minimum price regulations for imports from Norway on the salmon industry in Scotland.

Allan Wilson: The Executive is in regular dialogue with the European Commission about the operation of the EU/Norway Salmon Agreement. Close contact will be maintained following the announcement that the Commission intends to conduct an interim review of the present arrangements and as expiry of the agreement approaches.

Further And Higher Education

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how successful its initiatives have been in widening access to further and higher education services at institutions such as Clydebank College.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Indications are that the Executive's Programme for Government target of 40,000 additional annual college places is on course for achievement. The latest academic year for which complete figures are available, 1999-2000, showed a 3% increase in college enrolments, including an additional 1,173 at Clydebank College.

Genetically Modified Crops

Iain Smith (North-East Fife) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation there has been on the proposed GM crop trial at Newport-on-Tay.

Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive is committed to ensuring that people who live in the vicinity of proposed trial sites are provided with accurate information about the proposals and given the opportunity to comment if they wish.

  In relation to the proposed site near Newport-on-Tay, the Executive has undertaken a number of measures in addition to the statutory notice which the applicant placed in the Courier on 7 February. The Executive has written directly to Fife Council, local elected representatives, community councils, national beekeeping and organic interests and the National Farmers Union. An information leaflet has been prepared and distributed widely including local libraries and post offices. Officials from the Executive have visited neighbouring properties to the proposed site to discuss any issues of concern to residents.

  In addition, I addressed a well-attended public information meeting in Newport-on-Tay on 4 March. As well as hearing information about the statutory controls which regulate releases of GM plants and the science which underpins the farm scale evaluation programme, the audience were able to have their questions answered by those directly involved in the trial process.

  A decision on whether the proposed site should be included on the programme will be taken later this month and approval will only be granted if ministers are satisfied on the scientific evidence available that the GM crop can be grown on the proposed sites without posing a threat to human health or the environment.

Genetically Modified Crops

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of reports that interim results from trials of genetically modified oilseed rape show that damage has been caused to the environment and what action it intends to take.

Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive is aware of a newspaper report on this subject but understands that no interim results from the farm scale evaluation programme yet exist for any of the crops which are being assessed. The data from the three years of field trials will be collated upon completion of the programme and the results will be peer reviewed and published thereafter. The Scottish Executive will then consider how to respond to the results.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being introduced in order to tackle conditions of the respiratory system following the report by the British Thoracic Society, The Burden of Lung Disease .

Hugh Henry: Respiratory conditions represents one of the major disease categories requiring care by NHSScotland. Respiratory diseases are many and varied but smoking remains the greatest single cause of lung disease. We are determined to take effective action to implement measures in the White Paper Smoking Kills and a range of Scottish initiatives. In common with many other diseases and conditions, lung diseases are tackled through a range of measures at all stages of care.

Health

Ms Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has been notified of when the report of the review into the provision of domiciliary oxygen supplies in England will be published and what its timetable is for the consideration of this report and the implementation of any similar review in Scotland.

Malcolm Chisholm: We are not aware of any impending announcement by the Department of Health.

Health

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made towards the provision of ambulatory oxygen on prescription for people with lung disease.

Malcolm Chisholm: The possibility of providing portable or ambulatory oxygen is currently under consideration.

Health

David McLetchie (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated (a) aggregate and (b) per capita cost will be to (i) Lothian NHS Board and (ii) other NHS boards and local authorities affected of re-provisioning care for residents of Binny House, the Sue Ryder Care Home at Ecclesmachan, West Lothian, which is to close on 28 February 2002.

Hugh Henry: This is a matter for NHS Lothian and the other health and local authority commissioners. The information requested is not held centrally.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied that all extant guidelines issued to NHS boards and trusts are adhered to; what monitoring system is in place to measure compliance, and what measures are implemented in the event of any non-compliance.

Malcolm Chisholm: A range of guidance is provided to the NHS in Scotland by the Scottish Executive Health Department, by other central government departments and agencies, by professional organisations and by organisations which monitor standards and quality of healthcare.

  The prime responsibility for ensuring that guidance is implemented and complied with lies with NHS organisations. Where necessary, organisations which provide guidance also monitor compliance. Examples include the work of the Clinical Standards Board for Scotland in monitoring and reporting on performance against standards developed by the board. In some cases compliance with guidance is the subject of external audits and reviews by Audit Scotland.

  Action in the event of non-compliance will vary depending on the nature of the issue and of the non-compliance. The most important consideration will be to ensure that compliance is achieved as soon as reasonably practicable.

Health

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which NHS trusts and health boards have introduced a whistle-blowing policy to protect staff who disclose information about malpractice or maladministration in line with the Auditor General's report Overview of the National Health Service in Scotland 2000/2001 .

Mrs Mary Mulligan: The information requested is not held centrally. The Auditor General's Report on the overview of the National Health Service in Scotland indicates that most health bodies have either introduced or are taking steps to develop appropriate procedures. To assist employers, a Scottish Partnership Forum Information Network (PIN) Guideline on Dealing With Employee Concerns was issued to the Service in January this year, the Guideline contains a model Freedom of Speech policy. PIN Guidelines underpin the Staff Governance Standard and are required to be met or exceeded by NHSScotland employers.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when electronic health records will be available to all people in Scotland and whether any pilot research projects regarding them are currently taking place or are planned.

Malcolm Chisholm: Our target for Electronic Health Records is to establish, with active co-operation of patients, pilots based on GP summary information by 2003. We are currently studying options for these pilots and will publish proposals in due course.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will be possible for prescription information to be transmitted electronically between general practitioner practices, NHS hospitals and pharmacies.

Hugh Henry: As stated in The Right Medicine: A Strategy for Pharmaceutical Care in Scotland published on 4 February (Parliament's Reference Centre, Bib. number 18835), we are committed to having the electronic transmission of prescriptions operational across Scotland during 2005. As a first step we aim to have the system operational between the GP practices and community pharmacies throughout Irvine, Kilwinning and Dundonald LHCC this year.

Higher Education

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking in order to improve the competitiveness of universities.

Ms Wendy Alexander: As well as providing additional funding, such as the £25 million package for research which I announced last week, we are currently conducting a review of higher education in Scotland, which will inform future policy thinking.

Higher Education

Mrs Lyndsay McIntosh (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken since the publication of the report Supporting Active Communities in Scotland - A Draft Strategy for Volunteering and Community Action in order to assess the approach of journalism and media studies courses to voluntary and community matters.

Iain Gray: A Media Strategy Action Group has been established to develop a strategy for the promotion of the Active Communities Initiative in Scotland. It reports directly to the Scottish Executive. As part of its deliberations, the group plans to engage the Higher Education Funding Council on a review of Journalism and Media Studies courses.

Homelessness

Mrs Lyndsay McIntosh (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to its news release SE5229/2002 of 25 January 2002, what plans it has in respect of replacing hostels for homeless people in Glasgow, following the decommissioning of such hostels.

Iain Gray: The report of the Glasgow street homelessness review team recommended that the city's large-scale hostels be closed over time. Glasgow City Council and its partners have established a Planning and Implementation Group to take forward the recommendations of the report in a way which will ensure that appropriate accommodation and services are in place before hostels are closed. The Executive is making  £12.5 million available over three years to 2003-04 to assist the de-commissioning process. This will include the provision of a range of alternative accommodation options, depending on the needs of individuals.

Horse Racing

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received on the restoration and re-opening of Lanark Racecourse.

Dr Elaine Murray: Following their approaches to me and my predecessor I am arranging to meet Karen Gillon and David Hughes, the Royal Burgh Standard Bearer. I have received no other representation on this matter.

Horse Racing

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive where horse racing fits within its strategies on (a) sport and (b) tourism.

Dr Elaine Murray: There is no recognised Scottish governing body for horse racing. Consequently, no approach has been made to  sportscotland for the recognition of horse racing as a sport. Horse racing has not been identified separately in the Executive's tourism strategy, although individual race courses feature in the promotional activity of relevant area tourist boards.

Horse Racing

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what research on the future of Lanark Racecourse it or any of its agencies or non-departmental public bodies have undertaken or commissioned since 1999 and whether it will publish any such research.

Dr Elaine Murray: I am not aware of any research undertaken or commissioned by the Executive or any of its agencies, or non-departmental public bodies since 1999 on the future of Lanark Racecourse.

Kyoto Protocol

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects Her Majesty's Government to ratify the Kyoto Protocol.

Allan Wilson: I welcome this opportunity to confirm that UK ratification of the Kyoto Protocol was today announced in the House of Commons by Margaret Beckett. This confirms the UK commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and its continuing leading role in international efforts to tackle the threat of climate change.

  We are working in partnership with the UK Government and other devolved administrations to meet the Kyoto target and the action we are taking in Scotland is contained in the Scottish Climate Change Programme.

Land Reform (Scotland) Bill

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the right of access as conferred by Part 1 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill should also apply at night and, if so, whether it has taken account of how this will impact on the lives of those who live and work in isolated situations.

Ross Finnie: Part 1 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill provides rights of responsible access to land and inland  water for recreation and passage. A person will be presumed to be exercising access rights responsibly if they do not interfere unreasonably with the rights of others.  There is no reason why the responsible exercise of access rights at night should impact unreasonably on the lives of those who live and work in isolated situations. The bill does not distinguish, therefore, between daylight hours and the hours of darkness. However, when access outside daylight hours would create problems in a particular local situation, section 11(1)(d) of the bill provides that  local authorities may,  by order, restrict the responsible exercise of access rights over a particular area of land during the hours of darkness.

Land Reform (Scotland) Bill

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, under the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill, commercial companies operating in the countryside should seek agreement with the owner or manager of land over which their commercial activities are planned to take place before carrying out such activities.

Ross Finnie: Section 9 (2)(a) of the bill excludes commercial activities from access rights created under the bill. Commercial businesses currently access private land only  with the express or implied consent of the owner. When the legislation comes into force there will be no change in the way in which existing or new businesses operate. Guidance on access for commercial activities, including when the express agreement of the landowner should be sought, will be set out in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. The code will also provide guidance for landowners in respect of access to their land for commercial activities.

MMR Vaccine

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the single measles vaccine is as effective as the measles component of the triple MMR vaccine.

Malcolm Chisholm: The single measles vaccines currently being administered in the UK are unlicensed in the UK and have been imported to meet, in the view of the prescribers and on their direct personal responsibility, the special clinical needs of individual patients. These unlicensed vaccines have not been assessed by the UK licensing authority against the criteria of safety, quality and efficacy.

  Marketing authorisations (product licenses) have been granted for single measles vaccines and these licenses are extant. However, these licensed single vaccines are not manufactured for the UK market.

Ministerial Correspondence

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will reply to my letter of 27 December 2001, to the Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning in respect of the Scottish Transport Group.

Lewis Macdonald: A reply to your letter was issued on 6 March 2002.

Ministerial Correspondence

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Environment and Rural Development will respond to my letter of 6 December 2001 about jobs at West of Scotland Water in Dumfries.

Ross Finnie: I wrote to the member on 23 October 2001 about this issue. There is no record of a subsequent letter of 6 December on this subject from the member.

Ministerial Visits

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when ministers have visited Brussels in connection with European Union business since July 1999 and how long the visits were.

Mr Jim Wallace: The information requested is given in the following table:

  


Date of visit


End date
  (if different)


Minister


Purpose




07/07/1999

 

Jack McConnell


Fact finding and Structural Funds visit




29/09/1999

 

Jack McConnell


Pre-Scotland week press briefing




11/10/1999


13/10/1999


Ross Finnie


Scotland Week




10/10/1999


13/10/1999


Donald Dewar


Scotland Week




10/10/1999


14/10/1999


Jack McConnell


Scotland Week




11/10/1999


12/10/1999


Peter Peacock


Scotland Week




13/10/1999

 

Sarah Boyack


Scotland Week




14/10/1999

 

Henry McLeish


Scotland Week




14/10/1999


15/10/1999


Rhona Brankin


Scotland Week




15/10/1999

 

Alasdair Morrison


Scotland Week




22/11/1999

 

John Home Robertson


Fisheries Council




13/12/1999


14/12/1999


Sarah Boyack


Environment Council




14/12/1999


15/12/1999


Ross Finnie


Agriculture Council




16/12/1999


17/12/1999


John Home Robertson


Fisheries Council




20/03/2000


21/03/2000


Ross Finnie


Agriculture Council




22/03/2000

 

Jack McConnell


Launch of Structural Funds Equal Opportunities Toolbox. 
  Met with Commissioners Schrey and Barnier




27/03/2000

 

Sarah Boyack


Meeting with Commissioner de Palacio's Cabinet




27/03/2000

 

Jack McConnell


Meeting Francis Jacobs of the European Parliament and the 
  Bavarian Regional Office




07/04/2000

 

Jim Wallace


Meeting with Commissioner Vitorino




09/05/2000

 

Ross Finnie


Attended Scottish Seafood Exhibition




09/05/2000

 

Alasdair Morrison


Attended Scottish Seafood Exhibition




05/06/2000


06/06/2000


Jack McConnell


Attended Structural Funds conference




12/07/2000

 

Jack McConnell


Delivered speech at Flanders Festival and attended CLRAE 
  meeting in Brugge




18/09/2000

 

Susan Deacon


Meeting with Commissioner Byrne




17/11/2000

 

Rhona Brankin


Fisheries Council




20/11/2000


21/11/2000


Ross Finnie


Agriculture Council




29/11/2000


30/11/2000


Jim Wallace


Justice and Home Affairs Council




06/12/2000

 

Henry McLeish


Meeting with Commissioner Kinnock and meeting with Scottish 
  MEPs




11/12/2000

 

Sam Galbraith


Opened Scotland in Europe Cultural Exhibition in Scotland 
  House and met with Commissioner Wallstrom




14/12/2000


15/12/2000


Rhona Brankin


Fisheries Council




28/01/2001

 

Jack McConnell


Meeting Nigel Sheinwald and Swedish Representative Office




05/02/2001


06/02/2001


Sarah Boyack


Meeting with Commissioner de Palacio's Chef de Cabinet




05/02/2001

 

Angus Mackay


Meeting on Objective 2 Structural Funds




12/02/2001

 

Nicol Stephen


Education and Youth Council




26/02/2001


27/02/2001


Ross Finnie


Agricultural Council




08/03/2001

 

Sam Galbraith


Environment Council




08/03/2001

 

Alasdair Morrison


Columba Initiative - Launch of the Strategic Plan




16/03/2001

 

Jack McConnell


Governance Hearing




24/04/2001


25/04/2001


Rhona Brankin


Hosted Forestry Seminar in Scotland House and attended 
  Europe's premier Seafood Exhibition




21/05/2001


22/05/2001


Peter Peacock


Meeting of the Cohesion Fund countries on structural funds




28/05/2001

 

Henry McLeish


Signed Flanders Co-ordinated Initiative




13/07/2001

 

Angus MacKay


Informal Council meeting on Regional Policy




19/09/2001


20/09/2001


Angus MacKay


Meeting with Commissioner Barnier and met with Scottish 
  MEP's




09/10/2001


10/10/2001


Jack McConnell


Scotland Week: Attended a range of events




09/10/2001


10/10/2001


Henry McLeish


Scotland Week: Attended a range of events




09/10/2001


10/10/2001


Alasdair Morrison


Scotland Week: Attended a range of events




10/10/2001


12/10/2001


Rhona Brankin


Scotland Week: Attended a range of events




11/10/2001

 

Ross Finnie


Scotland Week: Attended a range of events




16/10/2001

 

Angus MacKay


Scotland Week: Attended a range of events




17/10/2001

 

Peter Peacock


Scotland Week: Attended a range of events




16/11/2001

 

Jim Wallace


Justice and Home Affairs Council




20/11/2001

 

Ross Finnie


Agriculture Council




17/12/2001


18/12/2001


Ross Finnie


Fisheries Council




29/01/2002


30/01/2002


Wendy Alexander


Attended Nordrhein Westfalen project launch




05/02/2002


07/02/2002


Nicol Stephen


Committee of the Regions Plenary

NHS Finance

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of health spending in the North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust area is allocated to (a) the Clydebank area and (b) Milngavie.

Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-22539 on 18 February 2002.

NHS Finance

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22140 by Malcolm Chisholm on 11 February 2002 on the fall in the number of cases of negligence against the NHS in Scotland, whether the increase in the budgetary provision for such claims from £3.5 million in 1999-2000 to £6.5 million in 2000-01 was necessary.

Malcolm Chisholm: The figures of £3.5 million and £6.5 million are the actual value of negligence cases settled against the NHS in 1999-2000 and 2000-01, respectively. The cost of settlements has remained relatively constant over the last four years with an average of £4.6 million per annum. The increase in 2000-2001 is explained in part by one large settlement of £1.7 million.

  While the value of cases increased in 2000-01 this has to be viewed in the context of total NHS spend of £5.5 billion. There is no evidence that this represents a permanent upward shift.

NHS Finance

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it will take to help the eight NHS Trusts with accumulated deficits of £53.9 million in 2000-01.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive made £90 million of additional funding available on 19 September 2001. The distribution of these funds to NHSScotland resulted in all operational cumulative deficits as at 31 March 2001 being eliminated providing a clean slate for the new NHS boards.

National Parks

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs Interim Committee and what issues were discussed.

Allan Wilson: I met the Chair of the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs Interim Committee on 14 January 2002 when we discussed the resourcing of the committee and the National Park. Following those discussions we have been able to allocate a further £1.9 million for the year 2002-03.

  Officials from the Scottish Executive continue to meet regularly with representatives of the Interim Committee to discuss a wide range of issues.

Nuclear Power

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has sought any legal advice or guidance with regard to its powers to veto any proposals to build new nuclear electricity generation stations and, if so, what advice or guidance it received.

Lewis Macdonald: As on all other matters, the Scottish Executive seeks legal advice as and when necessary and acts on it appropriately. Planning matters in Scotland are devolved. In addition, powers conferred by section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 have been executively devolved to Scottish ministers. Any application to build an electricity generating station in Scotland therefore requires the consent of the Scottish ministers; several such applications are currently under consideration.

Nursing

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will include the number of bank nursing staff employed by the NHS in the monitoring carried out by the Information and Statistics Division on the use of temporary nursing staff in the NHS.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Common Services Agency, Information and Statistics Division (ISD) currently collect information on the number and cost of bank nursing staff and this can be seen on the ISD website:

  http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/isd/NHSiS_resource/workforce/workforce_statistics.htm.

Nursing

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive why NHS trusts in the central belt spend an average of eight times as much on agency nursing staff than trusts elsewhere.

Malcolm Chisholm: Agency nurses are generally used to overcome a particular requirement and to meet the needs of patient care. Each NHS trust, irrespective of its location will have its own reasons for using an agency nurse in a particular situation. Information on the reasons for agency use by specific trusts is not held centrally, individual NHS trusts may be able to provide this information.

Nursing

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22137 by Malcolm Chisholm on 11 February 2002 on the employment of bank and agency nursing staff, whether the North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust is meeting the guidance issued by Audit Scotland on the employment of such nurses.

Malcolm Chisholm: All NHSScotland trusts and island health boards have been reminded they should use the recommendations in the Accounts Commission Report when considering employing a bank or agency nurse. North Glasgow University Hospital NHS Trust has advised that it is meeting the guidance issued by the Accounts Commission for Scotland (now Audit Scotland), in its report entitled Temporary Measures managing bank and agency nursing staff .

Nursing

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22137 by Malcolm Chisholm on 11 February 2002, whether the increase in agency nursing and recharge staff costs has contributed to the North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust's deficit of £9.5 million and whether such an increase in costs indicates that the trust is not meeting the guidance issued by Audit Scotland on the employment of agency and bank nursing staff.

Malcolm Chisholm: The £13.5 million for agency and recharged costs shown in the 2000-01 Annual Report, arose as a result of a change in accounting methodology. Had a consistent approach between 1999-2000 and 2000-01 been maintained, the reported increase would have amounted to around £700,000. This represents under 0.2% of the annual budget for North Glasgow University NHS Trust and is likely to have had a minor effect on the amount of the trust deficit.

  All NHSScotland trusts and island health boards have been reminded they should use the recommendations in the Accounts Commission Report when considering employing a bank or agency nurse. North Glasgow University Hospital NHS Trust has advised that it is meeting the guidance issued by the Accounts Commission for Scotland (now Audit Scotland) in its report entitled Temporary Measures managing bank and agency nursing staff.

Nursing

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to centralise information on the number of bank and contract nursing staff employed by NHS health boards.

Malcolm Chisholm: As part of its work, the Facing the Future Group will be looking at improving the data on the nursing workforce in its widest sense.

Nursing

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to include bank nursing staff in the collection of data on the number of temporary staff employed by the NHS in Scotland.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Common Services Agency, Information and Statistics Division (ISD) currently collect information on the number and cost of bank nursing staff and this can be seen on the ISD website:

  http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/isd/NHSiS_resource/workforce/workforce_statistics.htm.

Nursing

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22137 by Malcolm Chisholm on 11 February 2002, whether the increases in the use of temporary nursing staff, including bank and agency staff and in the costs incurred by the North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust indicate that the trust is not complying to the guidance issued by Audit Scotland on the employment of such staff.

Malcolm Chisholm: North Glasgow University Hospital NHS Trust has advised that it is meeting the guidance issued by the Accounts Commission for Scotland (now Audit Scotland) in its report entitled Temporary Measures managing bank and agency nursing staff .

  All NHSScotland trusts and island health boards have been reminded they should use the recommendations in the Accounts Commission Report when considering employing a bank or agency nurse.

Nursing

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4965 by Susan Deacon on 17 March 2000 on the steps taken by the Scottish Partnership Forum (SPF) on the employment of bank and agency nursing staff, whether the SPF has recommended any action to be taken in regard to the use of such staff by the North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Partnership Forum (SPF) heard presentations from three of the larger users of bank and agency staff, North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust, Lothian University Hospitals Trust and Renfrewshire and Inverclyde Primary Care Trust and commended the Accounts Commission (now Audit Scotland) for Scotland report to the service. The SPF did not recommend any specific action to North Glasgow University NHS Trust. North Glasgow University NHS Trust has confirmed that it is meeting the recommendations of the report.

Physical Education

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-19963 by Nicol Stephen on 11 December 2001, what progress has been made on the audit of current levels of swimming provision and opportunities for school pupils and when the results of its survey will be announced.

Nicol Stephen: The final response to the questionnaire was received in mid-February and the results are being analysed. I expect to report on the results in the next few weeks.

Police

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what support it is providing to the police in order to ensure that racist incidents are dealt with appropriately.

Mr Jim Wallace: The extra resources we have made available have led to record numbers of police officers. New guidelines on racist crime issued by the Lord Advocate provide practical advice on the way such incidents are handled by the police. And a national code of practice on the reporting and recording of such incidents is being finalised which will give further good practice guidance for all agencies, including the police, dealing with racism.

Police

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) adults and (b) juveniles arrested, taken into custody and charged with an offence at (i) Cumbernauld and (ii) Kilsyth police station were prosecuted in each of the last 12 months.

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) adults and (b) juveniles arrested, taken into custody and charged with an offence at (i) Motherwell and (ii) Wishaw police station were prosecuted in each of the last 12 months.

Colin Boyd QC: The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service does not collect statistical information by reference to individual police stations. Accordingly, the information is not available.

Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Bill

Mr Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the impact of the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Bill on fox control operations in the Highlands.

Ross Finnie: None. Those involved in pest control in the Highlands will need to ensure that their activities do not contravene this legislation. They have some time to make that assessment before the bill is enacted in the autumn.

Public Appointments and Public Bodies (Scotland) Bill

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will introduce the Public Appointments and Public Bodies (Scotland) Bill.

Peter Peacock: Before the summer recess.

Public Services

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the First Minister, in light of the Delivering for Scotland conference on 1 March 2002, how the Scottish Executive plans to evaluate improvements in the delivery of public services.

Mr Jim Wallace: I am determined to see improvements in services for patients, parents, pupils and passengers. We will measure those improvements in partnership with those who deliver the service and those who use it.

Public Transport

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to reinstate a regular bus service between Clydebank and Milngavie and whether such a service would be eligible for funding from the Public Transport Fund.

Lewis Macdonald: It is for the relevant local transport authority to secure the provision of any public passenger transport services which are considered necessary but are not provided on a commercial basis. Subsidy for the provision of such services is not eligible for funding from the Public Transport Fund.

Rail Network

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has received from Railtrack in respect of the infrastructure improvement programme for Renfrewshire and Inverclyde over the next four years.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with Railtrack on a wide range of issues. Infrastructure improvement works, including essential maintenance works currently under way, are the responsibility of Railtrack and subject to regulation by HM Railways Inspectorate.

Rail Services

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many railway stations have been adapted to fulfil the requirements of access for all.

Lewis Macdonald: The information requested is not held centrally.

Roads

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking in order to assist local authorities to tackle any backlog of repairs on the non-trunk road network.

Lewis Macdonald: On 25 February, I announced that local authorities are to receive an extra £20 million in grant in financial year 2001-02 to speed up their maintenance activity on local roads and bridges. This is in addition to an extra £70 million for capital investment, allocated to local authorities over the three years to March 2004, to tackle the backlog of repairs and maintenance to local roads and bridges.

  It will be a matter for each local authority to determine its own local priorities and to deal with its most serious problems first when spending these additional resources.

Roads

Mr John Home Robertson (East Lothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking in order to ensure that the A1 trunk road is kept clear during winter weather conditions and whether it is satisfied that Amey Highways Ltd fulfilled its contractual obligations in recent months.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive and the Performance Audit Group have reviewed and accepted the Winter Maintenance Plan prepared by Amey Highways Ltd. A copy of this plan, which demonstrates compliance with the terms of the trunk road contract, has been placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. numbers 18110 and 18116).

  The Scottish Executive is satisfied that Amey is fulfilling its contractual obligations with regard to winter maintenance on trunk roads in the south of Scotland.

Roads

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the special road scheme for the A87 Invergarry-Kyle of Lochalsh trunk road prescribes all classes of traffic for the purposes of use of the route.

Lewis Macdonald: Yes.

Rural Stewardship Scheme

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications under the Rural Stewardship Scheme have been approved in the current financial year to date.

Ross Finnie: Three hundred and eighty of the 476 eligible applications submitted under the Rural Stewardship Scheme have been approved in the current financial year to date.

Schools

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what safeguards currently exist to prevent the victimisation of promoted school staff by their subordinates.

Nicol Stephen: It is the responsibility of individual education authorities, as responsible employers, to ensure that there are effective procedures in place to protect teachers from victimisation in the workplace.

Sexual Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to raise awareness of and treat sexually transmitted diseases amongst teenagers.

Malcolm Chisholm: The £3 million Healthy Respect national health demonstration project seeks to increase awareness of sexually transmitted diseases, particularly chlamydia, among young people in Lothian. Lessons learned will be shared throughout the country. The project's website ( www.healthy-respect.com ) was launched on 10 February.

  The Executive is also funding two studies which will inform any plans to take forward opportunistic screening for chlamydia.

  The Executive is providing funding to set up new drop-in centres, which will provide a range of advice and support on sexual health, specifically to young people.

  Funding has been allocated for a review of current arrangements for collecting and analysing data on sexually transmitted infections.

  Research forming the first stage of the national sexual health strategy, which analyses the extent and effectiveness of current sexual health services in Scotland, has recently been completed.

  The Health Education Board for Scotland is also working to encourage young people to think seriously about the consequences and responsibilities of sexual relationships. Examples of that activity include the award-winning Think About It mass media campaign, and work to build capacity in terms of professional support for sex education in schools.

Social Justice

Mr Keith Harding (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Social Justice last met representatives of Fife Council and what issues were discussed.

Iain Gray: I last met representatives of Fife Council on 29 January when, along with representatives of the other councils neighbouring Edinburgh, we discussed the Cities Review.

Special Educational Needs

Janis Hughes (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to review the assessment and provision of education services for young people with special educational needs.

Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive consulted last year on Assessing Our Children's Educational Needs -The Way Forward? . As a result, outline proposals for change were published on 19 February 2002. Copies of the proposals are available in the Scottish Executive response to the consultation (Bib. number 19469). The Executive will be holding consultation meetings with service users and providers this year in order to develop further the proposals for improvements.

Teachers

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the composition is, in terms of councillors, officials and other members, of the panels in each local authority area which hear and consider grievances against teachers and promoted staff and, where the composition is different for headteachers, what these differences are.

Nicol Stephen: The information requested is not held centrally.

  A model grievance procedure is contained within the terms and conditions of service for teachers. It is the responsibility of individual education authorities to determine the composition of panels established to consider grievances against teachers under that model. Information on the composition of such panels is not held centrally. The Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers has established a working group to review disciplinary and grievance procedures.

Teachers

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines exist to advise local authorities on the conduct of disciplinary procedures against teaching staff.

Nicol Stephen: A model disciplinary procedure is contained within the terms and conditions of service for teachers. It is for education authorities to develop detailed procedures based on that model. The Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers has established a working group which is reviewing disciplinary and grievance procedures.

Teachers

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had, or is having, with local authorities with regard to the one-year placement for new entrants to the teaching profession.

Nicol Stephen: Local Government representatives have been present at all meetings of the Induction Implementation Group (which was established in July 2001 to develop in partnership the Teacher Induction Scheme). In addition, during February and early March each local authority will meet representatives from the Scottish Executive Education Department to discuss in detail how the Scheme will operate in their area.

Teachers

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many one-year placements for new entrants to the teaching profession it expects local authorities to offer from August 2002.

Nicol Stephen: There will be approximately 2,400 eligible students leaving Scottish Higher Education Institutions with a Teaching Qualification in June 2002 and all of these have been guaranteed a one year training contract. The Scottish Executive is working with local authorities to ensure a quality induction experience for all of these probationary teachers.

Teachers

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that local authorities are funded so that one-year placements are guaranteed to all new entrants to the teaching profession who seek them from August 2002.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive is fully committed to meeting the direct cost of implementation of the agreement, A Teaching Profession for the 21st Century .

  Appropriate measures are being taken to ensure sufficient funding is in place to meet the guarantee of a one year training contract for all eligible probationary teachers.

Tourism

Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what Scotland's share will be of the new funding of up to £20 million allocated by Her Majesty's Government to the Million Visitor Campaign.

Mike Watson: The campaign budget will not be split by country brand. This is a Britain campaign, with Scotland featuring as an integral brand in the Britain portfolio.

Tourism

Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to support the Million Visitor Campaign and what resources it intends to apply to any such support.

Mike Watson: VisitScotland has committed £100,000 to the Million Visitor Campaign, which will supplement their current marketing campaigns in both the United States and in continental Europe.

Tourism

Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it expects all sectors of the tourism industry to be able to participate in the Million Visitor Campaign in view of the expectation for match funding and whether it will provide support to enable the tourism industry to have access to the campaign.

Mike Watson: VisitScotland will provide advice to tourism businesses enabling them to become involved in the campaign and inviting them to enhance their profile further through the provision of special deals for promotion on both BTA and VisitScotland websites.

Tourism

Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what part VisitScotland will play in promoting the Million Visitor Campaign across the whole of Scotland.

Mike Watson: Information will be provided to businesses via the dedicated industry web site, scotexchange.net. Area tourist boards and the Scottish Tourism Forum will also promote the initiative to their members.

Voluntary Sector

Mrs Lyndsay McIntosh (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to action points D2 and D3 of the report Supporting Active Communities in Scotland - A Draft Strategy for Volunteering and Community Action , how many public access points that disseminate information about volunteering opportunities are available.

Iain Gray: A network of 37 Volunteer Centres operating from 51 offices in 30 local authority areas are now in place to provide information and advice on volunteering opportunities in Scotland. The aim of the Volunteer Centre network is to make it easier for people to volunteer to improve the quality of life in ways that are appropriate to local volunteering needs and circumstances. It is our aim to extend the network to all 32 local authority areas in Scotland in the coming year, provided match funding for core costs can be found from other agencies.

  In addition, Volunteer Development Scotland, the main organisation for volunteering in Scotland, is developing a database of volunteering opportunities across Scotland. This will be launched later this year.

Waste Management

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what financial support it plans to allocate to local authorities in respect of refrigerator recycling.

Ross Finnie: In my reply to Parliamentary Question S1O-04233 on 6 December, I confirmed that the Executive will provide additional funding to Scottish local authorities to assist them with costs arising from the new regulations on the disposal of fridges, freezers and other domestic appliances containing ozone depleting substances. I can now confirm that the Executive has allocated £1.69 million for 2001-02 to assist with these additional costs. This funding will be allocated to local authorities as set out in the following table:

  


Local Authority


Allocation




Aberdeen City


£69,697




Aberdeenshire


£74,962




Angus


£36,022




Argyll & Bute


£29,295




Clackmannanshire


£15,990




Dumfries & Galloway


£48,105




Dundee City


£47,085




East Ayrshire


£39,802




East Dunbartonshire


£36,547




East Lothian


£30,120




East Renfrewshire


£29,625




Edinburgh City


£149,602




Eilean Siar


£8,970




Falkirk


£47,617




Fife


£115,612




Glasgow City


£201,052




Highland


£68,827




Inverclyde


£27,915




Midlothian


£27,120




Moray


£28,027




North Ayrshire


£45,810




North Lanarkshire


£108,097




Orkney Islands


£6,427




Perth & Kinross


£44,085




Renfrewshire.


£58,387




Scottish Borders


£35,272




Shetland Islands


£7,402




South Ayrshire


£37,590




South Lanarkshire


£101,422




Stirling


£28,117




West Dunbartonshire


£31,215




West Lothian


£51,697




  Distribution of the grant takes into account the estimated number of appliances arising in each local authority area as estimated in the Executive's reply to parliamentary question S1W-19533 on 13 November 2001, and is based on an amount of £30 per appliance. I intend that the grant will be payable to authorities under a new Financial Assistance Order which is due to come into force on 26 March 2002.

  I am also aware that authorities will have to meet additional costs in 2002-03. I can therefore announce that the Executive will continue to provide additional assistance but, as for this year, I shall wish to review the costs to the authorities, bearing in mind developments in the storage and treatment market. In particular, I would expect the costs of storage and treatment to reduce substantially as treatment capacity expands and, I would hope, becomes available more locally, providing increased investment and employment opportunities.

  I shall announce the actual level of support for next year at a later date.

Water

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the current average per capita water consumption is of residents in (a) Greater Glasgow, (b) Edinburgh, (c) Perth, (d) Aberdeen, (e) Inverness, (f) the Western Isles and (g) Orkney and Shetland.

Ross Finnie: Detailed studies would be required to produce the information being sought. However, information relating to domestic water consumption in general in Scotland is given in the publication Using Water in the Home in Scotland. Domestic Water Consumption Study 1999 , a joint study by the three water authorities, Research Consultancy Services and RPS Water Services which was published in October 2000. A copy of this is available in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 19718).

Water

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it has introduced in order to reduce water consumption and what forecasts have been made of average per capita water consumption by residents of (a) Greater Glasgow, (b) Edinburgh, (c) Perth, (d) Aberdeen, (e) Inverness, (f) the Western Isles and (g) Orkney and Shetland in 10 years' time.

Ross Finnie: Measures to reduce water consumption include informing water authorities that applications for new Water Orders or amendments to existing Water Orders for the abstraction of water for public water supplies will not be approved unless they can demonstrate that they have achieved the economic level of leakage. Other measures include encouraging the water authorities to undertake joint publicity campaigns to promote water efficiency among customers. They are also required to carry out efficiency audits of their own operations with the proviso that nothing done should compromise public health and that full use should be made of the Welfare to Work scheme to provide an inspection/leakage repair service.

  Forecasting domestic water consumption for the areas mentioned would require detailed studies. However, some information on forecasting water consumption in the home can be found in Using Water in the Home in Scotland. Domestic Water Consumption Study 1999, a joint study by the three Scottish water authorities, Research Consultancy Services and RPS Water Services, published in October 2000, a copy of which has been placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 19718).

Whisky Industry

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any economic impact assessment of Her Majesty's Government's proposals to introduce strip stamps for spirits.

Lewis Macdonald: The proposal to introduce strip stamps for spirits is a reserved matter. I understand that Customs and Excise will carry out an economic impact assessment after evaluating the responses to their consultation.

Whisky Industry

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty's Government regarding its proposals to introduce strip stamps for spirits.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues including the formal consultation on the costs, benefits and practicalities of introducing a tax system for spirits.